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MOUNT PLEASANT, N.Y.  The Westlake High School football team seeks to avoid an 0-2 start when it hosts Roosevelt High School at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Wildcats lost to Our Lady of Lourdes, 34-25, last Friday in their season opener. Westlake came up on the wrong end of the score but showed it could compete with a Class B power.

Westlakes Dan Bassi ran for 98 yards and two touchdowns while new junior quarterback Mike Ragusa finished 9-for-24 passing for 89 yards and two touchdowns.

Ragusa struggled a bit in his first outing at the varsity level but showed he was capable of playing well under center, particularly with the two touchdown throws. Head coach Rich Hennessy kept the offense balanced as Bassi carried the ball 24 times.

Ragusa will more than likely continue to experience growing pains in the early part of the season, but he showed against Lourdes he is capable of keeping his team in a game.

The Wildcats still have stellar senior Tommy Hopkins, the offensive and defensive lineman who will play for UConn next fall. Hopkins recorded nine total tackles against Lourdes, including four solo tackles. He has the ability to dominate in the trenches on both sides of the ball and should be a key factor in Saturdays game.

Roosevelt enters Saturdays game after a 35-0 drubbing at the hands of Briarcliff. The Bears absolutely shredded the Indians on the ground as Roosevelt gave up 260 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns, including two from Briarcliff quarterback Kevin Wolff.

Briarcliff stifled the Indians at every turn and Roosevelt was unable to get its offense rolling and ultimately came up with no points. The Indians could be in for a long afternoon Saturday, particularly with Hopkins anchoring the Westlake lines.